Who doesn’t like ice cream? Starting from small children to adults all over the world really like ice cream especially enjoyed when the weather is hot. When viewed from its history, ice cream has been around since Ancient Roman times. From what was once a dish for the elite, now it can be enjoyed by all.

At first glance, ice cream, gelato, and sorbet have similar shapes and textures. It turns out that there is a difference between the three.

Did you know that in ancient times ice cream as a royal dish was made from snow on the mountaintops of China and Europe?

Today, of course, the situation is different. Ice cream is usually made from cream ingredients mixed with sugar, whole milk, eggs, flavorings and other ingredients in a very fast rotating mixer.

The whipped cream is then stored at a lower temperature than gelato, which is -12 to -15 degrees Celsius. The texture of ice cream is softer and crumbles easily because it is high in air bubbles. The denser the ice cream, the better the quality.

Ice cream

Gelato in Italian means frozen. The basic ingredients for making gelato are the same as ice cream, but the texture is smoother than ice cream. Making gelato requires an additional soft mix and soft ice. It is a concentrate and softener that is safe for consumption. Compared to ice cream, gelato needs a cooler temperature of -13 to -9 degrees Celsius.

Gelato flavor variants are more diverse, and the resulting flavor is stronger than ice cream.

The content of air bubbles in this typical Italian ice is not as much as ice cream and makes it a denser texture. The texture of gelato is thicker than ice cream because it is stirred slowly so that the air in it is reduced.

That is, the fat content is also less so that it makes gelato tend to be dense and thick. High-quality gelato only contains about 1-3 percent fat. Also read: The History of Meatballs, Starting from the Sincerity of a Child to His Mother

Sorbet

The ingredients for making sorbet are different from ice cream and gelato, sorbet is made purely from fruits that are mashed or extracted and then mixed with sweeteners before being frozen at a certain temperature, almost the same as gelato. Sorbet is gelato made without cream, milk, or other dairy products. Instead, it is made from very simple raw materials, namely fruit, water, and sugar.

The ingredients for making sorbet are different from ice cream and gelato, sorbet is made purely from fruits that are mashed or extracted and then mixed with sweeteners before being frozen at a certain temperature, almost the same as gelato. Sorbet is gelato made without cream, milk, or other dairy products. Instead, it is made from very simple raw materials, namely fruit, water, and sugar.

Historically, the sorbet was food made from snow so the texture was similar to powdered ice. Only a small amount of air is mixed in the dough during freezing. Alcohol is often added to the sorbet so that it is not too stiff when cooled.

Between ice cream, gelato, and sorbet, which one do you prefer?

Ice cream has a greater fat content than gelato, which is about 12-14 percent because ice cream contains egg yolks and cream. The texture of gelato is smoother than ice cream. Usually, gelato is one of the desserts for Italian people. Sorbet is often a dessert alternative for people who follow a low-fat diet because it is formulated without animal products.

Compared to gelato or sorbet, ice cream lasts longer even if it is stored for a long time, and the taste of ice cream does not change easily so many ice creams are mass-produced by factories.

Now you know the difference between ice cream, gelato, and sorbet, right? Then which one do you prefer?